Former Bernie Sanders supporter Sarah Silverman says she will proudly vote for Hillary Clinton, and burned Donald Trump by accusing him of “serious arrested development.”
The comedian spoke at the Democratic National Convention to help unify the party, with her speech sparking cheers from some, and boos from others. Her message was that if she could get behind Clinton, so should other Sanders backers — because Donald Trump is a far worse option.
“Hillary is our Democratic nominee and I will proudly vote for her,” she told the crowd in Philadelphia. “I will vote for Hillary with gusto.”
In explaining why she switched allegiances, Silverman said: “I support Bernie Sanders and the movement behind him … Hillary heard the passion of the people behind Bernie, and brought those passions into the party’s platform and that is the process of democracy at its very best.”
As for the Vermont senator’s diehard supporters refusing to crossover, “To the Bernie or bust people, you’re being ridiculous,” Silverman told them.
Silverman went on to say that Trump’s knack for insults and name-calling hinted at serious emotional problems rooted in neglect during his childhood.
“That stuff is for third graders,” she said. “It’s like major arrested development stuff. That’s like ‘I’m still emotionally four and calling people names from my gold-encrusted sandbox because I was given money instead of human touch or coping tools,’” she mocked.
Silverman also said she believed everyone deserved the same opportunities — and that “as a pretty kick-ass woman once said, ‘it takes a village.’”
The comedian spoke after comedian-turned-Sen. Al Franken mocked Trump University and Trump himself.
Silverman’s appearance was one way Democrats tried to up the star power after Republicans offered the low wattage of Scott Baio and Antonio Sabato Jr. After Silverman spoke to the crowd, Paul Simon took to the stage to perform “Bridge Over Troubled Water.”
Silverman still needs to make the case to some Sanders backers — chants of “Bernie” broke out on the floor several times during the first night of the convention.